Presentation
Côte d’Ivoire has great potential to become an important destination for adventure travels in Africa. For many years there’s been a strong promotion of vacation and discovery travels in Côte d’Ivoire. We’ve talked to visitors coming back from Côte d’Ivoire and asked them their opinions about the country. They’ve answered that Côte d’Ivoire is too “sweet”. They also appreciated the warm and welcoming population, the exciting aquatic activities and beaches, the strong cultural diversity with over 60 different ethnic groups and the beautiful fauna and flora to be discovered.
We recomend adventure travelers to discover Côte d’Ivoire.
Geography
Côte d’Ivoire is situated in West Africa with a southerly facing North Atlantic Ocean coast. It is bordered by Ghana to the east, Liberia to the west, Guinea to the northwest, Mali to the north, and Burkina Faso to the northeast. Côte d’Ivoire is mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains are located in the northwest. Most of the inhabitants live along the sandy coastal region. Apart from the capital area, the forested interior is sparsely populated. The highest point is Mont Nimba (1,752 meters).
Climate in Côte d’Ivoire is characterized by tropical along the coast, semiarid in the far north; three seasons – warm and dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to May), hot and wet (June to October). The coast has heavy surf and no natural harbours; during the rainy season torrential flooding is possible.
Why visit Côte d’Ivoire ?
Tourist villages, beaches, and photo safaris are some of the main tourist attractions in Côte d’Ivoire. This is a country which has many national parks, cities and monuments to visit and many beaches adventure travelers can enjoy during their vacation.
Coastline
The coastline of Côte d’lvoire has several stunning beaches with beautiful sand dotted with palm trees and clear warm waters favorable for swimming and many other water sports. Fishing is an activity majorly done along the coast and on the rivers. Some of the species usually caught include red carp, mullet, sole and barracuda.
Nightlife
The country has several nightclubs, bars, theatres, cafes and cinemas in most of its main cities. The majority of the posh hotels in the country are found in the major cities. The hotels have highly skilled and professional staff to guarantee that any stay in the country is enjoyable. They offer various cuisines and many more additional services that vary from one hotel to another.
Côte d’Ivoire’s National Parks
Reserves and national parks, like Tai National Park, Comoe National Park and Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve, offer adventure tourists an opportunity to see the rich abundance of wildlife and the variety of flora species. Three National Parks are on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
- Taï National Park
- Comoe National Park
- Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve
- Ehotilé Islands National Park
Main attractions in Côte d’Ivoire
Yamoussoukro
Yamoussoukro is the capital of Côte d’lvoire and an important place for the Baoule people. It is famous for characteristic paved streets lit with several lights, the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, replica of Vatican’s St. Peter Basilica and the Abokouamekro Game reserve. This Basilica seats about 18,000 people and thousands of tourists have visited the country to see this spectacular structure.
Abidjan
Abidjan is the biggest city and the economic center of Côte d’Ivoire. It has the Museum of contemporary art and the Park du Banco Rainforest Reserve.
Man
Man is a city situated in the western part of the country amid the Dan people who are a very impressive tribal group popular in western Africa because of their fascinating cultures. The region of Man is a mountainous region and densely forested with attractive rock formations in LaDent. Adventure travelers should choose Man for any outdoor activities such as climbing and hiking.
Grand-Bassam
This city is situated at the east of Abidjan. It was the French colonial capital city from 1893 to 1896. The city remained a key seaport until the growth of Abidjan starting in the 1930s. There’re many occasions to make historical tours in Grand-Bassam. Furthermore, it was added on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Bouaké
Its economy is based on the cotton industry. The city largely grew from the 1970s after the construction of the power station at Kossou Lake flooded land to the west of the city. Bouaké is known for its large carnival and market, its crafts and for the St Michael’s Cathedral.
Korhogo
Korhogo is situated in the northern region of Côte d’Ivoire and is also the capital of the Senufo people. Adventurers should discover the Wananiere Village de Tisserand, about 15 minutes outside of the town near Mont Korhogo. A vast amount of local cloth is produced in the village with traditional methods. They also sell everything from table cloths to handy bags in various motives and colors. Their products can be bought in many souvenir markets.
Côte d’Ivoire’s beaches
The south eastern coastline of Côte d’lvoire has several stunning unspoilt beaches with beautiful sand dotted with palm trees and clear warm waters favorable for swimming and many other water sports. We recommend adventurers to go to Assinie, an extraordinary seaside village. It’s a strip which divides the laguna and the Atlantic Ocean. We recommend also visiting the south western coastline, from San Pédro to Sassandra, we consider as more beautiful. The Bay of Sirens has a great reputation among tourists.
